Marks & Spencer's Bankside store in central London has officially reopened today (July 7) following an extensive 11-week refurbishment, unveiling a significantly upgraded shopping experience. The 7,500-square-foot food hall now boasts a bakery that is 150% larger than before, a dedicated wine shop, a coffee-to-go counter, and a premium Mai Sushi counter, among other enhancements.
New features and offerings
The revamped store includes a Click and Collect counter, an expanded home and cosmetics range, flowers and plants, and travel money services. Shoppers can also find new products such as Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme Sandwich, Strawberry & Cream Dip, and Chocolate and Pistachio dip. M&S began offering iced coffee in May, and customers can take advantage of the £4 food offer, which includes a café drink and a selected bakery item.
Store manager Rodica Ianc told London Now: 'We're delighted to celebrate the full transformation of M&S Bankside. The store now offers a brighter, more modern shopping experience for our local community, and I'd like to thank our customers for their patience during the renewal. We're confident they'll love the new additions, including Mai Sushi, the coffee-to-go offer, and our extended bakery range.'
Part of a £90 million investment programme
The Bankside refurbishment is part of M&S's £90 million investment programme to upgrade stores across London. Thinus Keeve, Retail Director at M&S, said: 'We want to be proud of every store we have across the capital and as we reshape for growth, our focus is opening new stores to grow our footprint but also renewing those stores where we can deliver a better shopping experience for our customers. It's brilliant to have such a strong property pipeline across London.'
Other confirmed refurbishments this year include Whetstone (reopened April 7, 14,500 sq ft), Mitcham Road in Tooting Broadway (reopened May 27, the first M&S in Tooting in 18 years), Tottenham Court Road (reopened June 9, 45% bigger), and Bankside (reopened July 7). Upcoming stores include Sydenham at Bell Green Retail Park (due September) and Elephant and Castle at The Elephant Development (due by end of year). The Pantheon Oxford Street flagship will be transformed into a showcase for menswear, kidswear, lingerie and homeware. An additional two stores are to be confirmed.
These refurbishments are expected to create more than 150 jobs. The chain also announced last year it would open 200 more stores across the capital, creating an additional 450 jobs for Londoners.
Customer experience and deals
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, said: 'In this new phase of our transformation, we are reinvesting for growth and in London that means opening new Food stores with the right range for families, commuters and local residents.' The store also features the Apothecary range, allowing shoppers to stock up on candles and toiletries.
